A dual function transducer assembly comprising: a magnet motor assembly comprising a first magnet plate and a second magnet plate arranged in parallel to one another along a first axis; a sound output assembly coupled to the magnet motor assembly, the sound output assembly comprising a piston and a voice coil, and wherein the voice coil is arranged to cause a vibration of the piston in a direction parallel to the first axis; and a shaker assembly coupled to the magnet motor assembly, the shaker assembly comprising a first shaker coil and a second shaker coil arranged to cause a vibration of the magnet assembly in a direction parallel to a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis.
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9. A dual function transducer assembly comprising:
a magnet motor assembly;
a first transducer component coupled to the magnet motor assembly, the first transducer component operable to move in a direction parallel to a first axis to produce a first transducer function; and
a second transducer component coupled to the magnet motor assembly, the second transducer component operable to move in a direction parallel to a second axis to produce a second transducer function, the second axis is perpendicular to the first axis, and the first axis and the second axis are within a same plane.
1. A dual function transducer assembly comprising:
a magnet motor assembly comprising a first magnet plate and a second magnet plate arranged in parallel to one another along a first axis;
a sound output assembly coupled to the magnet motor assembly, the sound output assembly comprising a piston and a voice coil, and wherein the voice coil is arranged to cause a vibration of the piston in a direction parallel to the first axis; and
a shaker assembly coupled to the magnet motor assembly, the shaker assembly comprising a first shaker coil and a second shaker coil arranged to cause a vibration of the magnet motor assembly in a direction parallel to a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis.
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An aspect of the invention is directed to a dual function transducer, more specifically, a dual function transducer that contains a single magnet motor assembly for loudspeaker and shaker functionality. Other aspects are also described and claimed.
In modern consumer electronics, audio capability is playing an increasingly larger role as improvements in digital audio signal processing and audio content delivery continue to happen. In this aspect, there is a wide range of consumer electronics devices that can benefit from improved audio performance. For instance, smart phones include, for example, electro-acoustic transducers such as speakers that can benefit from improved audio performance. Smart phones, however, do not have sufficient space to house multiple transducers and/or actuators typically used to achieve various functions that may be desirable (e.g., acoustic output, haptic output, etc.). This is also true for some portable personal computers such as laptop, notebook, and tablet computers, and, to a lesser extent, desktop personal computers with built-in transducers.
An aspect of the disclosure is directed to a dual function transducer that can be used as both an electroacoustic transducer (e.g., loudspeaker) and a tactile transducer (e.g., shaker). The loudspeaker functionality may be used to output sound from the device while the shaker may be used to produce a haptic output, for example by vibrating a surface it is connected to. The transducer may include a single magnet motor assembly that accommodates both the loudspeaker components (e.g., piston and voice coil) and shaker components (e.g., shaker coil) so that both functions can be achieved using a single transducer. Representatively, the single magnet motor assembly may be used to generate one or more magnetic field(s) that are used by subcomponents of the dual function transducer to generate the desired output. For example, one of the subcomponents may provide the shaking (e.g., vibration) function and another of the subcomponent may serve a loudspeaker function. Both functions may require the electromechanical actuation of a portion of the components. The actuation may be in a same platen for both functions in the dual function transducer. The magnetic system design may therefore enable the utilisation of two functions by directing the magnetic field into two or more sets of high magnetic field density. One or more sets will be utilized by the vibration function, and the other set by the loudspeaker function.
Representatively, in one aspect, the vibration function may use a static coil that is placed in one of the sets of high magnetic field density so that it can generate an electromagnetic force when an electrical current is applied to the coil. The magnetic system may be assembled to a compliant suspension system. When the force is generated by the coil, the magnetic system may move (actuate) to transmit a physical motion/force outside the system. The loudspeaker function may have a coil that is attached to a lightweight piston (e.g., diaphragm) that is connected to a suspension system. This is assembled such that the coil is suspended in the other set of high magnetic field density area from the magnetic system. In the loudspeaker application, the magnetic system has essentially no movement but the electromagnetic force generated moves the coil/piston assembly. This provides the mechanism to generate audible frequencies, for example, from 100 Hz to 20 kHz. The vibration function may require relatively low frequencies which are generally inaudible, whereas the loudspeaker function uses a portion of the audible frequency band. The different coils for the vibration and loudspeaker functions may have the ability to be driven independently by different channels on an amplifier, or together by the same channel, depending on the application needs. The dual function transducer provides the additional advantage of enabling sufficient space (volume) savings in the system, and can be made much more compact two separate modules used to achieve vibration and loudspeaker functions.
More specifically, aspects of the disclosure include a transducer assembly having a magnet motor assembly, and a piston and voice coil coupled to the magnet motor assembly. The magnet motor assembly may include a first magnet plate and a second magnet plate arranged along an axis, a first support plate positioned between inward facing surfaces of the first magnet plate and the second magnet plate, and a second support plate positioned along an outward facing surface of the first magnet plate to form a magnetic gap between the first support plate and the second support plate. The voice coil may be positioned around the first support plate and within the magnetic gap, and the piston vibrates in a direction parallel to the axis. In some aspects, the first support plate and the second support plate extend beyond ends of the first magnet plate and the second magnet plate such that the magnetic gap is formed by surfaces of the first support plate and the second support plate and the ends of the first magnet plate and the second magnet plate. The inward facing surfaces of the first magnet plate and the second magnet plate may have a same magnetic pole, and a magnetic flux line across the magnetic gap may be perpendicular to a winding height of the voice coil. In some aspects, a length or a width of the first magnet plate and the second magnet plate may be parallel to the axis. The magnet motor assembly may be a first magnet motor assembly, the piston is a first piston and the voice coil is a first voice coil, and the assembly may further include a second magnet motor assembly that shares a third support plate positioned along an outward facing surface of the second magnet plate with the first magnet motor assembly. The second magnet motor assembly may include a third magnet plate, a fourth magnet plate and a fourth support plate, the third magnet plate is positioned between the third support plate and the fourth support plate, and the fourth magnet plate is positioned along a side of the fourth support plate opposite the third magnet plate; and a second piston and a second voice coil arranged along an end of the third magnet plate and the fourth magnet plate. In some aspects, the axis is a first axis, and the second piston vibrates along a second axis that is at an angle to the first axis. The piston and the voice coil may include a first piston and a first voice coil, and the transducer assembly may further include a second piston and a second voice coil positioned at an end of the first magnet plate and the second magnet plate, and the second piston vibrates along the axis.
In another aspect, a dual function transducer assembly is provided including a magnet motor assembly comprising a first magnet plate and a second magnet plate arranged in parallel to one another along a first axis; a sound output assembly coupled to the magnet motor assembly, the sound output assembly comprising a piston and a voice coil, and wherein the piston vibrates in a direction parallel to the first axis; and a shaker assembly coupled to the magnet motor assembly, the shaker assembly comprising a first shaker coil and a second shaker coil arranged to cause a vibration of the magnet assembly in a direction parallel to a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis. In some aspects, the magnet motor assembly is movably coupled to a transducer frame by a leaf spring. Still further, the voice coil may be rotated ninety degrees relative to the first shaker coil and the second shaker coil. In some aspects, inward facing surfaces of the first magnet plate and the second magnet plate are attached to a center plate, and a pair of outer plates are attached to outward facing surfaces of the first magnet plate and the second magnet plate. The center plate and the pair of outer plates may form at least three different magnetic gaps around the first magnet plate and the second magnet plate for receiving the voice coil, the first shaker coil and the second shaker coil. In some aspects, the piston and the voice coil are a first piston and first voice coil, and the sound output assembly further includes a second piston and a second voice coil arranged along another end of the magnet motor assembly and operable to vibrate in a direction parallel to the first axis.
In another aspect, a dual function transducer assembly includes a magnet motor assembly; a first transducer component coupled to the magnet motor assembly, the first transducer component operable to move in a direction parallel to a first axis to produce a first transducer function; and a second transducer component coupled to the magnet motor assembly, the second transducer component operable to move in a direction parallel to a second axis to produce a second transducer function, the second axis is perpendicular to the first axis, and the first axis and the second axis are within a same plane. In some aspects, the first transducer function is a sound output. The first transducer component may be a voice coil coupled to a piston, and actuation of the voice coil vibrates the piston in the direction parallel to the first axis. The voice coil may be positioned within a voice coil gap formed at a length side of the magnet assembly. In still further aspects, the second transducer function is a haptic output. The second transducer component may include a shaker coil, and actuation of the shaker coil vibrates the magnet assembly in a direction parallel to the second axis. The shaker coil may be positioned within a shaker coil gap formed at a width side of the magnet assembly. The shaker coil may be a first shaker coil, and the system further comprises a second shaker coil. The magnet assembly may be configured to direct a magnetic field into a first region of high magnetic field density and a second region of high magnetic field density, and the first region of high magnetic field density actuates the first transducer component and the second region of high magnetic field density actuates the second transducer component. In some aspects, the first region of high magnetic field density is along a length side of the magnet assembly and the second region of high magnetic field density is along a width side of the magnet assembly. The first transducer component and the second transducer component may be driven independently upon application of a current. In some aspects, the first transducer component and the second transducer component may be driven together upon application of a current.
In still further aspects, a transducer assembly is provided including a magnet motor assembly comprising a first magnet plate, a second magnet plate, a center plate positioned along inward facing surfaces of the first magnet plate and the second magnet plate, and a pair of outer plates positioned along outward facing surfaces of the first magnet plate and the second magnet plate to form a plurality of channels along ends of the center plate that extend beyond the first and second magnet plates; and a coil positioned around at least one of the ends of the center plate and within at least one of the plurality of channels. In some aspects, the coil is one of a first pair of coils and the assembly further comprises a second pair of coils, the first pair of coils are positioned along a first axis and the second pair of coils are positioned along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis. In other aspects, the coil is a shaker coil, and the shaker coil is operable to move the magnet motor assembly in at least two different directions. The shaker coil may be fixed to a device to be actuated and the magnet motor assembly is mounted to a compliant base. In other aspects, the coil is a first voice coil, and the transducer assembly further comprises a second voice coil, a first diaphragm coupled to the first voice coil and a second diaphragm coupled to the second voice coil. In some cases, the first voice coil and the second voice coil are operable to vibrate in directions parallel to at least two different axes. The magnet motor assembly may include an open center. In some aspects, at least one of the first voice coil and the first diaphragm or the second voice coil and the second diaphragm are positioned within the open center and the first diaphragm. An extension member may extend from opposing surfaces of the center plate and through a center opening in the first magnet plate, the second magnet plate and the pair of outer plates. In some aspects, at least one of the plurality of channels is formed between at least one end of the extension member and at least one of the pair of outer plates, and wherein the at least one of the plurality of channels receives a third voice coil arranged along a third axis different than at least two axes along which the first and second voice coils are arranged. In still further aspects, a third diaphragm is coupled to the third voice coil and is operable to vibrate in a direction parallel to the third axis.
The above summary does not include an exhaustive list of all aspects of the present invention. It is contemplated that the invention includes all systems and methods that can be practiced from all suitable combinations of the various aspects summarized above, as well as those disclosed in the Detailed Description below and particularly pointed out in the claims filed with the application. Such combinations have particular advantages not specifically recited in the above summary.
The aspects are illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” aspect in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same aspect, and they mean at least one.
In this section we shall explain several preferred aspects of this invention with reference to the appended drawings. Whenever the shapes, relative positions and other aspects of the parts described in the aspects are not clearly defined, the scope of the invention is not limited only to the parts shown, which are meant merely for the purpose of illustration. Also, while numerous details are set forth, it is understood that some aspects of the invention may be practiced without these details. In other instances, well-known structures and techniques have not been shown in detail so as not to obscure the understanding of this description.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. Spatially relative terms, such as “beneath”, “below”, “lower”, “above”, “upper”, and the like may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element's or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (e.g., rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.
As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising” specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
The terms “or” and “and/or” as used herein are to be interpreted as inclusive or meaning any one or any combination. Therefore, “A, B or C” or “A, B and/or C” mean “any of the following: A; B; C; A and B; A and C; B and C; A, B and C.” An exception to this definition will occur only when a combination of elements, functions, steps or acts are in some way inherently mutually exclusive.
Transducer 100 may generally include a magnet motor assembly 102, a piston 104 and a voice coil 106. In some aspects, the magnet motor assembly 102 may be arranged along a different axis than the piston 104 and voice coil 106. Representatively, magnet motor assembly 102 may be arranged along a first axis 108, and piston 104 and voice coil 106 may be arranged along an end 110 of the magnet motor assembly 102. Referring now in more detail to magnet motor assembly 102, magnet motor assembly 102 may include a first magnet 112 and a second magnet 114 arranged along first axis 108. For example, first magnet 112 and second magnet 114 may be magnet plates that have a rectangular shape. The rectangular shaped magnets 112, 114 may be arranged so that a length dimension (L) or a width dimension (W), illustrated by line 150, of the rectangular shaped magnets 112, 114 runs in a direction parallel to first axis 108, as shown in
Support plates 116, 118, 120 may be made of a material suitable for guiding a magnetic flux through the magnet assembly to create regions of high magnetic field density for actuating the transducer functions. For example, support plates 116, 118, 120 may be steel plates that are in direct contact with the magnets 112, 114 positioned in between. Support plates 116, 118 and 120 may have a similar shape to magnets 112, 114, except that they may be taller than (e.g., longer length or width dimension), or otherwise extend beyond, an end of magnets 112, 114 so that the air or magnetic gap 122 that the voice coil 106 resides in is formed at the ends of magnets 112, 114. For example, support plates 116, 118, 120 may have ends that extend beyond magnets 112, 114 such that the air or magnetic gap 122 is a channel defined by the interfacing sides or surfaces 116B, 118A, 118B, 120B of plates 116, 118, 120 extending beyond magnets 112, 114, and the ends 112C, 114C of magnets 112, 114. In addition, the same poles of each of magnets 112, 114 may face each other. For example, each of surfaces 112A, 114A of magnets 112, 114, respectively, may represent a North pole so the same poles face, or interface with, one another. This arrangement directs the magnetic field generated by the magnets 112, 114 and associated magnetic flux density field lines 124A, 124B through the air or magnetic gap 122, and creates one or more regions of high magnetic field density (e.g., region containing lines 124A, 124B), as shown in
The voice coil 106 may be attached to a bottom side of piston 104, and positioned around the end of the middle plate 118 and within air or magnetic gap 122. The piston 104, which may include a diaphragm and a surround, may be attached to a fixed portion of the assembly. The surround may be a relatively compliant structure that will allow the voice coil 106 to move relative to the middle plate 118. For example, the magnetic flux density field lines 124A, 124B pass through the voice coil 106 positioned in gap 122 in a direction perpendicular to the winding height of voice coil 106 to drive a movement (e.g., vibration) of voice coil 106 in a direction parallel to first axis 108. The magnetic field may be perpendicular to the current flowing through voice coil 106 so that the resulting force output is in a direction parallel to the first axis 108. This in turn, drives a movement of the piston 104 (which is attached to the voice coil 106) in a direction parallel to first axis 108. It should be recognized that having the magnetic flux density field lines 124A, 124B perpendicular to the winding height of the voice coil 106 allows for a narrow dimension (e.g., winding width) of the voice coil 106 to be arranged in a relatively narrow air or magnetic gap, which in turn results in a more efficient magnet motor assembly. For example, in some aspects, the portion of the air or magnetic gap 122 that voice coil 106 is positioned in may be narrower than the remainder of the gap. For example, the inward facing surfaces 116B, 120B of plates 116, 120 (e.g., surfaces that interface with the magnets) may include protrusions 116A, 120A, respectively. The protrusions 116A, 120A may be of any size and dimension suitable to narrow the size of the gap surrounding voice coil 106 as shown. During operation, a current (or signal) is driven through voice coil 106 to produce a magnetic field and a high magnetic field density within gap 122. The magnet assembly 102 may be relative stationary compared to the voice coil 106 such that the movement of the voice coil 106 in response to the magnetic field moves (e.g., vibrates) piston 104 in a direction 152 parallel to first axis 108. In some aspects, the movement of piston 104 is used to generate a sound output. In this aspect, transducer assembly 100 may be a loudspeaker, or otherwise have a loudspeaker function.
The piston 104 (e.g., diaphragm and surround) and voice coil 106 may have any size and dimension that allows for voice coil 106 to be suspended within the gap 122. Representatively, where the gap 122 is formed by elongated channels on each side of plate 118, piston 104 and voice coil 106 may also have an elongated shape. For example, piston 104 and voice coil 1056 may have a race track or rectangular shape and the longest sides may be arranged within, or otherwise along, the channels between plates 116, 118, 120 which form gap 122. In some aspects, piston 104 and voice coil 106 may be the only moving structures coupled to magnet assembly 102, and the other end of magnet assembly 102 may be mounted to an enclosure wall within which transducer 100 is implemented. In other aspects, a piston and voice coil may be positioned along both ends of magnet assembly 102, or along other sides of magnet assembly 102, so that the piston/voice coils vibrate along more than one axis of transducer 100.
The shaker function of transducer 300 may be achieved by moving or vibrating the magnet assembly 102 in a direction parallel to a second axis 308 that is different than the first axis 108. For example, where magnet assembly 102 has a rectangular shape as shown, the first axis 108 may run in a direction parallel to a width side or dimension (W) and the second axis 308 may run in a direction parallel to a length side or dimension (L) of magnet assembly 102. In this aspect, transducer 300 may be considered a biaxial or multi-axial transducer because it moves in different directions along at least two or more axes. Transducer 300 may further include a pair of shaker coils 302, 304 positioned along opposite sides or ends 310A, 310B of magnet assembly 102. Shaker coils 302, 304 may be positioned along the width ends or sides of the middle support plate 118 as shown in
The magnet assembly 102 may be mounted within a frame or other enclosure by a compliant suspension system so that the force generated by the shaker coils 302, 304 can move the magnet assembly 102 in a direction parallel to axis 308. For example, as illustrated in
Returning now to
In this aspect, transducer 300 may be a dual function transducer in that it can generate both a physical motion/force (e.g., shaker function) and acoustic output (e.g., loudspeaker function). In addition, the dual functions can be achieved using a single magnet assembly 102 (e.g., a single motor) because the magnet assembly 102 directs the magnetic field into two (or more) sets or regions of high magnetic field density (e.g., gaps 122, 322 and 324) that can be used to drive components used to achieve the vibration (shaker) function and components to achieve the loudspeaker function. In addition, the actuation of the components may be in a same plane (e.g., a plane defined by the middle plate 118), although the component movement may be in different directions. For example, the magnet assembly 102 may cause the voice coil 106 positioned in gap 122 (and the associated piston) to move in directions parallel to first axis 108 to achieve the loudspeaker function, and shaker coils 302, 304 positioned in gaps 322, 324 to move in directions parallel to second axis 308 to achieve the shaker function. In addition, as previously discussed, the vibration function requires relatively low frequencies which are generally inaudible, whereas the loudspeaker function uses a portion of the audible frequency band. Thus, the voice coil and shaker coils have the ability to be driven independently by different channels on the amplifier (upon input of a current or signal), or together by the same channel depending on the application needs. This, in turn, may reduce the amplifier resources.
As can be seen in
Representatively, transducer assembly 800 may include a magnet assembly 802 which is formed by a stack-up of two magnets (e.g., magnets 112, 114) and three support plates (e.g., support plates 116, 118, 120) as previously discussed, although only middle support plate 118 is shown in
Shaker coils 910A, 910B may be arranged along opposite ends or sides of the middle support plate of magnet assembly 902, which are different from the ends or sides the voice coils 906A, 906B are arranged around. For example, shaker coils 910A, 910B may be arranged around sides that are bisected by the axis 308, which is perpendicular to axis 108. The magnet assembly 902 may be attached to the fixed structure (e.g., a frame) by a compliant member (e.g., leaf spring) so that the magnet assembly 902 can move relative to the fixed structure. Upon application of a current that excites the magnet assembly 902 and shaker coils 910A, 910B, shaker coils 910A, 910B cause magnet assembly 902 to be displaced in a direction parallel to axis 308 (e.g., perpendicular to axis 108), as illustrated by the arrow. This in turn, results in a movement of an actuating surface attached to the magnet assembly 902 for the shaker function. Transducer 900 may be operable to switch between the shaker function and loudspeaker function as desired.
At least four different pistons 1304A, 1304B, 1304C, 1304D and voice coils 1306A, 1306B, 1306C, 1306D can be arranged around magnet assembly 1302, and along different axes. For example, pistons 1304A, 1304C having voice coils 1306A, 1306C attached thereto are arranged along axis 108, and pistons 1304B, 1304D having voice coils 1306B, 1306D attached thereto are arranged along axis 1308. It should be noted that axis 1308 may be different from the previously discussed axes (e.g., axes 108, 308) in that it is an axis through the opening 1302 in the magnet assembly 1302, and therefore not within a same plane as the plates forming magnet assembly 1302. Axis 108 is perpendicular to axis 1308, and runs parallel to the planar surfaces of the various plates 112, 114, 116, 120. Pistons 1304A, 1304C and the associated voice coils 1306A, 1306C are arranged along axis 108 such that they all move (e.g, vibrate) in a direction parallel to axis 108. Pistons 1304B, 1304D and the associated voice coils 1306B, 1306D are arranged along axis 1308 such that they all move (e.g., vibrate) in a direction parallel to axis 1308. Similar to the previously discussed configurations, magnet assembly 1302 may be mounted to a fixed structure (e.g., frame) so that it is relatively stationary, and the pistons 1304A-1304C and voice coils 1306A-1306C are attached to the fixed structure by a compliant member (e.g., surround) such that they are free to move relative to the fixed structure. Upon application of a current, the voice coils 1306A-1306C move (e.g., vibrate) and cause the pistons 1304A-1304C to move (e.g., vibrate), for example, to produce a multidirectional or multiaxial sound output. This, in turn, causes sound output in different directions parallel to one or both of axes 108, 1308 to achieve a multidirectional or multiaxial loudspeaker function.
In this aspect, electronic device 1500 includes a processor 1512 that interacts with camera circuitry 1506, motion sensor 1504, storage 1508, memory 1514, display 1522, and user input interface 1524. Main processor 1512 may also interact with communications circuitry 1502, primary power source 1510, transducer 1518 and microphone 1520. Transducer 1518 may be a speaker and/or the transducer assembly described herein. The various components of the electronic device 1500 may be digitally interconnected and used or managed by a software stack being executed by the processor 1512. Many of the components shown or described here may be implemented as one or more dedicated hardware units and/or a programmed processor (software being executed by a processor, e.g., the processor 1512). The processor 1512 controls the overall operation of the device 1500 by performing some or all of the operations of one or more applications or operating system programs implemented on the device 1500, by executing instructions for it (software code and data) that may be found in the storage 1508. The processor 1512 may, for example, drive the display 1522 and receive user inputs through the user input interface 1524 (which may be integrated with the display 1522 as part of a single, touch sensitive display panel). In addition, processor 1512 may send a current or signal (e.g., audio signal) to transducer 1518 to facilitate operation of transducer 1518. Representatively, the processor 1512 may send a current or signal to one or more components of the transducer assembly (e.g., voice coil 106, shaker coils 302, 304, etc) to drive the components independently or together. For example, the coils 106, 302, 304 could be driven independently by different channels on the amplifier, or together by the same channel, depending on the application needs.
Storage 1508 provides a relatively large amount of “permanent” data storage, using nonvolatile solid state memory (e.g., flash storage) and/or a kinetic nonvolatile storage device (e.g., rotating magnetic disk drive). Storage 1508 may include both local storage and storage space on a remote server. Storage 1508 may store data as well as software components that control and manage, at a higher level, the different functions of the device 1500.
In addition to storage 1508, there may be memory 1514, also referred to as main memory or program memory, which provides relatively fast access to stored code and data that is being executed by the processor 1512. Memory 1514 may include solid state random access memory (RAM), e.g., static RAM or dynamic RAM. There may be one or more processors, e.g., processor 1512, that run or execute various software programs, modules, or sets of instructions (e.g., applications) that, while stored permanently in the storage 1508, have been transferred to the memory 1514 for execution, to perform the various functions described above.
The device 1500 may include communications circuitry 1502. Communications circuitry 1502 may include components used for wired or wireless communications, such as two-way conversations and data transfers. For example, communications circuitry 1502 may include RF communications circuitry that is coupled to an antenna, so that the user of the device 1500 can place or receive a call through a wireless communications network. The RF communications circuitry may include a RF transceiver and a cellular baseband processor to enable the call through a cellular network. For example, communications circuitry 1502 may include Wi-Fi communications circuitry so that the user of the device 1500 may place or initiate a call using voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) connection, transfer data through a wireless local area network.
The device may include a transducer 1518. Transducer 1518 may be a speaker and/or a transducer assembly such as that described in reference to
The device 1500 may further include a motion sensor 1504, also referred to as an inertial sensor, that may be used to detect movement of the device 1500, camera circuitry 1506 that implements the digital camera functionality of the device 1500, and primary power source 1510, such as a built in battery, as a primary power supply.
While certain aspects have been described and shown in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that such embodiments are merely illustrative of and not restrictive on the broad invention, and that the invention is not limited to the specific constructions and arrangements shown and described, since various other modifications may occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. The description is thus to be regarded as illustrative instead of limiting. In addition, to aid the Patent Office and any readers of any patent issued on this application in interpreting the claims appended hereto, applicants wish to note that they do not intend any of the appended claims or claim elements to invoke 35 U.S.C. 112(f) unless the words “means for” or “step for” are explicitly used in the particular claim.
Wilk, Christopher, Ilkorur, Onur I., Newman, Michael J, Wilkes, Jr., David S., Mikolajczyk, Rebecca J.
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